TS/ADHD and headaches

[Lisadawn73]

I'm new to the site and am just hoping someone out there can help me. My son is 10, and was first diagnosed with ADHD. I was completely against meds until his grades started slipping and the school tested him for an IEP. At that time, it was found that he had an extremely high IQ, but couldn't stay focused to keep his grades up. Shortly after being on Adderall, he began with the tics and has since been diagnosed with having tourette's. He's now on Adderall, Clonidine and Risperdal. About two weeks ago, he began having severe, "stabbing" headaches. The last for mere seconds, enough to double him over at times, and then they're gone. He had a CT scan done last week, which was normal. He has an appt with a neurologist tomorrow. I'm at my wits end, I live in a small town and we don't have a very impressive list of physicians....I feel like there's something serious going on with my son, but don't know what and can't get the doctors to take me seriously.

[Chemar]

Hi Lisa

sorry to hear that your son is having these headaches.

 

Honestly, I would try to get a doctor to seriously look at the med combo he is on!!!

 

Adderall can have some pretty intensive side effects, never mind Risperidal, and Clonodine is not side effect free either.

 

I would also get a second opinion on the TS diagnosis as adderall can in duce tics.

 

If your son has been having any head or neck tics, he may find relief from the headaches by seeing a good chiropracter....preferably a NUCCA one ( http://www.nucca.org )

 

Headaches, especially sharp ones like you describe are NOT something to be ignored and so I really would advise you trying to find a good doctor (preferably an Integrative one) who looks for causes rather than just writes prescriptions!

 

BTW, Omega Fatty Acids, especially Omega 3 have been found very beneficial for ADHD ...best kind are the ones that combine Omega 3, 6 & 9 (eg fish oil, flaxseed oil, borage oil and evening primrose oil combos)

Also gingko biloba is excellent for memory/focus

 

You may also want to check out http://www.nativeremedies.com as they have some good preparations as alternatives to meds for attention/focus problems

 

all the best

[Andy]

I think you should know that a teacher or school can not recommend medication for they are not doctors and they can be sued for such. Second a school can not force a child to take medication or force a parent to give their children medication to control behaviors. Third most schools I find are more understanding when a diagnoise is explained to them, you would be suprised on how many people do not understand or know what TS really is. I myself am not a fan of medicating kids to supress behaviors. I always thought that should be the last choice. Feed the brain, heal the body is the way I would look at a child first.

 

 

Questions you may ask yourself

What is causing the TS? Is it a family trait and if so, what supplements could treat the condition better then meds.

Is it out of the blue and if so, what may be in your child's body that is causing it and what other damage might have been done that needs to be address as well.

 

I was wondering if your child has had a flu shot or any other shot before you saw a change or

if you live near any coal burning industry such as power plants or auto-factories?

This may not be a clue or it may help looking at environmental factors that can be addressed the easiest.

 

In anycase there is a ton of information on this site as well as a book that is offered for sale by one of the experts who created this site some time back.

I recommend that if time permits that you read thru the threads page by page to get background information and an understanding of what we talk about here if you don't know already. I would start with Chemar's "Treatments that have helped my son", Claires thread on "Getting Started.." and then Kim's "Articles". My past threads on testing, heavy metals, and chelation may also be of interest.

But diet, supplements, and probiotics is where I started my son's own treatment first and may be an area of interest for you and your son as well.

Stay with us and ask your questions.

We all have done that ourselves.

[mmazz]

Hi Lisa:

 

I agree with Andy regarding the schools intervention. A 3rd grade teacher once told me to place my son on aderal (spelling?). She said it would turn my "C" student into an "A" student. Instead I had him tutored. Chemar is right with the doc thing. Something that really needs mentioning is if you choose to take him off of the meds, do it right and under a docs supervision. I understand that these meds need to be withdrawn over time.

 

Good Luck and post as much as you can the people here are great for info and support.

 

Oh and if anyone can request something for this board....spell check would be nice for us who really rely on it

 

Be Well;

 

Marie